In the early morning hours of June 26, 2021, Gerryon Marcreese Kye Sr., a 33-year-old Black man, was fatally shot in his home on Rose Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Kye was in his second-floor bedroom with a female acquaintance when two masked men entered the room. The intruders demanded money and, after locating some cash, shot Kye in the leg and chest before fleeing the scene.
The female witness was not physically harmed during the incident and cooperated with the ensuing police investigation.
The investigation into Kye's murder led authorities to identify two Black male suspects, one being significantly taller than the other. For many months, the case saw little public progress, leaving Kye's family to plead with the community for any information that could lead to the identification of his killers. Kye was remembered by his loved ones as a caring and outgoing person who cherished spending time with his children and family. His death was not the first instance of violence at the Rose Street residence; just two months prior, Kye's younger brother had been shot multiple times but survived.
A significant breakthrough in the case came in December 2023 when Isaiah Willhite was arrested and charged with Gerryon Kye's murder. Willhite faced multiple charges, including felony murder, two counts of felony firearm, and first-degree home invasion. Investigators discovered that the motive may have stemmed from a prior conflict between Willhite and Kye's cousin over a marijuana scam. It is believed that Willhite targeted Kye under the mistaken belief that he was involved in the dispute. A Glock handgun found in Willhite's vehicle was ballistically matched to the bullets recovered from Kye's body. While one suspect has been brought into the legal process, the second individual involved in the home invasion and murder of Gerryon Marcreese Kye Sr. remains at large, and the investigation is ongoing.
